Variable volume carton

Abstract

A blank can be erected into a carton that can be varied in volume. The carton can be configured in two different closed configurations, with the volume of the carton being different in the two closed configurations. In a first of the closed configurations, one or more flaps respectively hingedly connected to end edges of the carton's panels can close the carton's opening. In a second of the closed configurations, folding can take place so that the carton's panels are doubled over at a position between their ends.

1 . A variable volume carton, the carton comprising: 
 first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction; and    a plurality of panels, wherein    longitudinally extending side edges of said plurality of panels are respectively connected to one another so that said plurality of panels extend at least partially around the carton's interior,    first end edges of said plurality of panels are proximate said first end, extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, and collectively at least partially define an opening while the carton is in an open configuration, with said opening being at said first end and providing access to the carton's interior while the carton is in an open configuration,    second end edges respectively of said plurality of panels are proximate said second end and extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction,    said plurality of panels includes a plurality of fold lines that are operative so said plurality of panels can be folded and unfolded at a position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels,    each panel of said plurality of panels is doubled over while said plurality of panels is folded at said position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels.    
     
     
         2 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein for each panel of said plurality of panels, said panel in its entirety is at least generally planar while said plurality of panels is unfolded at said position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels.  
     
     
         3 . A variable volume carton, the carton comprising: 
 first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction; and    a plurality of panels, wherein    longitudinally extending side edges of said plurality of panels are respectively connected to one another so that said plurality of panels extend at least partially around the carton's interior,    first end edges of said plurality of panels are proximate said first end, extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, and collectively at least partially define an opening while the carton is in an open configuration, with said opening being at said first end and providing access to the carton's interior while the carton is in an open configuration,    second end edges respectively of said plurality of panels are proximate said second end and extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction,    said plurality of panels includes a plurality of fold lines that are operative so said plurality of panels can be folded over and thereby doubled over at a position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels, and    none of said fold lines, which are operative so that said plurality of panels can be doubled over, is in substantially close proximity to said second end.    
     
     
         4 . The carton according to  claim 3 , wherein none of said fold lines, which are operative so that said plurality of panels can be doubled over, are within about 2 inches from said second end.  
     
     
         5 . The carton according to  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of flaps respectively hingedly connected to said first end edges of said plurality of panels, wherein said opening of the carton can be at least substantially closed by said flaps respectively overlapping one another.  
     
     
         6 . A variable volume carton, the carton comprising: 
 first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction; and    a plurality of panels including, at least, 
 first and second side panels that are spaced apart from one another and extend in the longitudinal direction, and  
 third and fourth panels that extend in the longitudinal direction and are spaced apart from one another at least while the carton in an open configuration, wherein  
   longitudinally extending side edges of said plurality of panels are respectively connected to one another so that said plurality of panels extend at least partially around the carton's interior,    first end edges of said plurality of panels are proximate said first end, extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, and collectively at least partially define an opening while the carton is in the open configuration, with said opening being at said first end and providing access to the carton's interior while the carton is in the open configuration,    second end edges respectively of said plurality of panels are proximate said second end and extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction,    for each side panel of said first and second side panels, said side panel includes at least one longitudinal fold line that is positioned between, and distant from, said side edges of    said side panel and extends toward said first end edge of said side panel, and said third panel includes at least one fold line that extends crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction and is positioned between, and distant from said first end edge and said second end edge of said third panel.    
     
     
         7 . The carton according to  claim 6 , wherein said fold line of said third panel extends at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and at least proximate each of said side edges of said third panel.  
     
     
         8 . The carton according to  claim 6 , wherein for each side panel of said first and second side panels, said side panel further includes, at least, oblique fold lines that extend: 
 divergently away from at least proximate said longitudinal fold line of said side panel, and    obliquely with respect to said longitudinal fold line.    
     
     
         9 . The carton according to  claim 8 , wherein for each side panel of said first and second side panels, all ends of said oblique fold lines are distant from said first and second end edges of said side panel.  
     
     
         10 . The carton according to  claim 8 , wherein for each side panel of said first and second side panels, said side panel further includes, at least: 
 a first fold line that extends crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, is at least proximate said oblique fold lines of said side panel, is at least proximate said longitudinal fold line of said side panel, and is positioned between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said side panel, and    a second fold line that extends crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, is at least proximate said oblique fold lines of said side panel, and is positioned between, and distant from, said first fold line and said second end edge of said side panel.    
     
     
         11 . The carton according to  claim 6 , wherein said fourth panel includes at least one fold line that extends crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction and is positioned between, and distant from said first end edge and said second end edge of said fourth panel.  
     
     
         12 . The carton according to  claim 6 , further comprising a first flap hingedly connected to said first end edge of said fourth panel, and a second flap hingedly connected to said first end edge of said third panel, wherein 
 at least one of said first and second flaps at least partially closes said opening of the carton while the carton is in a first closed configuration,    said first flap includes a first tab for interacting with a feature of said second flap for at least partially maintaining the carton in the first closed configuration, and    said first flap further includes a second tab for mating with a slot in said third panel for at least partially maintaining the carton in a second closed configuration in which said opening of the carton is at least partially closed.    
     
     
         13 . The carton according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said first tab tapers in a first direction,    said second tab tapers in a second direction, and    said first and second directions are opposite.    
     
     
         14 . The carton according to  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of flaps respectively hingedly connected to said first end edges of said plurality of panels, wherein said opening of the carton is at least substantially closed by said plurality of flaps.  
     
     
         15 . The carton according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said longitudinal fold lines extend in a common plane; and    for each panel of said first and second side panels, said flap hingedly connected to said side panel includes a fold line that at least substantially extends in said common plane.    
     
     
         16 . The carton according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said fold line of said third panel extends at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and at least proximate each of said side edges of said third panel;    said fourth panel includes at least one fold line that 
 extends at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and at least proximate each of said side edges of said fourth panel, and  
 is positioned between, and distant from, said first end edge of said fourth panel and said second end edge of said fourth panel;  
   a first longitudinal distance is defined from said fold line of said third panel to said first edge of said third panel;    a second longitudinal distance is defined from said fold line of said fourth panel to said first edge of said fourth panel; and    said first and second longitudinal distances are at least about equal.    
     
     
         17 . The carton according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said fold line of said third panel is a first fold line of said third panel;    said fold line of said fourth panel is a first fold line of said third panel;    said third panel includes, at least, a second fold line that 
 extends at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and at least proximate each of said side edges of said third panel, and  
 is positioned between, and distant from said second end edge of said third panel and said first fold line of said third panel;  
   said fourth panel includes, at least, a second fold line that 
 extends at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and at least proximate each of said side edges of said fourth panel, and  
 is positioned between, and distant from said second end edge of said fourth panel and said first fold line of said fourth panel;  
   a third longitudinal distance is defined from said second fold line of said third panel to said first edge of said third panel;    a fourth longitudinal distance is defined from said second fold line of said fourth panel to said first edge of said fourth panel; and    said third and fourth longitudinal distances are at least about equal.    
     
     
         18 . The carton according to  claim 6 , wherein in a closed configuration of the carton: 
 said opening is at least substantially closed;    for each side panel of said first and second side panels, longitudinally extending portions of said side panel are folded along said longitudinal fold line so that said longitudinally extending portions are in opposing face-to-face configuration with respect to one another; and    said third and fourth panels are at least generally folded along said fold line of said third panel so that each of said third and fourth panels is doubled over.    
     
     
         19 . The carton according to  claim 18 , wherein portions of said third panel that are respectively located on opposite sides of said fold line of said third panel are in opposing face-to-face configuration with respect to one another while said third and fourth panels are doubled over.  
     
     
         20 . The carton according to  claim 18 , wherein at least in the closed configuration: 
 for each side panel of said first and second side panels, 
 said side panel further includes, at least, a plurality of fold lines that bound and thereby define an at least substantially triangular portion of said side panel,  
 said triangular portion has a tip that is at least proximate said longitudinal fold line of said side panel,  
 said triangular portion has an edge connected to an edge of a rectangular portion of said panel, and  
 said triangular portion extends obliquely with respect to said rectangular portion, and  
   said triangular portions of said first and second side panels extend convergently toward one another.    
     
     
         21 . The carton according to  claim 18 , further comprising a flap hingedly connected to said first end edge of said fourth panel, wherein said flap includes, at least, a tab for mating with a slot in said third panel for at least partially maintaining the carton in the closed configuration.  
     
     
         22 . The carton according to  claim 21 , further comprising a flap hingedly connected to said first end edge of said third panel, wherein: 
 the closed configuration is a first closed configuration;    said tab is a first tab;    at least one of said flap hingedly connected to said first end edge of said third panel and said flap hingedly connected to said first end edge of said fourth panel at least partially closes said opening of the carton in a second closed configuration of the carton; and    said flap connected to said fourth panel further includes a second tab for interacting with a feature of said third panel for at least partially maintaining the carton in the second closed configuration.    
     
     
         23 . A blank for forming a variable volume carton, the blank comprising: 
 a plurality of panels including, at least, first and second panels;    for each panel of said plurality of panels, said panel includes, at least, 
 (a) opposite first and second end edges that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction, and  
 (b) opposite first and second side edges that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction;  
   said second side edge of said first panel is connected to said first side edge of said second panel by a first longitudinal fold line;    said first panel includes, at least, 
 (a) a second longitudinal fold line that is positioned between, and distant from, said first and second side edges of said first panel, and  
 (b) oblique fold lines that extend obliquely with respect to said second longitudinal fold line and divergently away from 
 (1) said second longitudinal fold line, and  
 (2) a predetermined location that is on said first panel and is positioned between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said first panel;  
 
   said second panel includes at least a first transverse fold line that is positioned between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said second panel;    a first longitudinal distance is defined from said predetermined location on said first panel to said first end edge of said first panel;    a second longitudinal distance is defined from said first transverse fold line to said first end edge of said second panel; and    said first and second longitudinal distances are at least about equal.    
     
     
         24 . The blank according to  claim 23 , wherein all ends of said oblique fold lines are spaced apart from said first and second end edges of said first panel.  
     
     
         25 . The blank according to  claim 23 , wherein said first transverse fold line of said second panel extends to at least proximate each of said first and second side edges of said second panel.  
     
     
         26 . The blank according to  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said plurality of panels further includes, at least, a third panel;    said second side edge of said second panel is connected to said first side edge of said third panel by a third longitudinal fold line; and    said third panel includes, at least, 
 a fourth longitudinal fold line that is positioned between, and distant from, said first and second side edges of said third panel, and  
 oblique fold lines that extend obliquely with respect to said fourth longitudinal fold line and divergently away from at least proximate said fourth longitudinal fold line.  
   
     
     
         27 . The blank according to  claim 23 , further comprising a flap connected by a fold line to said first end edge of said first panel, wherein: 
 said flap includes a first tab and a second tab,    said first tab tapers in a first direction,    said second tab tapers in a second direction, and    said first and second directions are opposite from one another.    
     
     
         28 . The blank according to  claim 23 , wherein said second panel further includes a second transverse fold line that is positioned between, and distant from, said first transverse fold line and said second end edge of said first panel.  
     
     
         29 . The blank according to  claim 28 , wherein said first panel further includes at least one transverse fold line that is aligned with said second transverse fold line.  
     
     
         30 . The blank according to  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said plurality of panels further includes, at least, a third panel and a fourth panel;    said second side edge of said second panel is connected to said first side edge of said third panel by a longitudinal fold line, and    said second side edge of said fourth panel is connected to said first side edge of said first panel by a longitudinal fold line.    
     
     
         31 . The blank according to  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a first attachment panel that is connected by a longitudinal fold line to said first edge of said fourth panel and is for being attached to a first portion of said third panel; and    a second attachment panel that is connected by a longitudinal fold line to said first edge of said fourth panel and is for being attached to a second portion of said third panel,    wherein a gap is defined between said first and second attachment panels.    
     
     
         32 . The blank according to  claim 23 , wherein said first panel further includes at least a second transverse fold line that is at least proximate said predetermined location on said first panel.  
     
     
         33 . The blank according to  claim 32 , wherein said first and second transverse fold lines are at least substantially aligned with one another.  
     
     
         34 . The blank according to  claim 32 , wherein said first panel further includes a third transverse fold line that is at least proximate said oblique fold lines, and said third transverse fold line is positioned between, and distant from, said second transverse fold line and said second end edge of said first panel.